EP 1186920 A1 20020313 - Tool and method for positioning optical fiber arrays
Title (en)
Tool and method for positioning optical fiber arrays
Title (de)
Werkzeug und Verfahren zur Positionierung von optischen Fasermatrixen
Title (fr)
Outil et procédé pour positionner de matrices de fibres optiques
Publication
Application
Priority
EP 00402488 A 20000908
Abstract (en)
The present invention includes a tool (300) for positioning optical waveguide fibers (310) on an adhesive coated substrate (302) including a holder (301) and a pressure source. The holder (301) includes a chamber (314) coupled to the pressure source and multiple recesses (308) configured to position the optical waveguide fibers (310). Each recess (308) includes a reference surface (312) and is connected to the chamber (314) by a passageway (316). The pressure source is configured to selectively increase and decrease the pressure in the chamber (314). The invention also includes a method of making optical waveguide fiber array blocks using the tool (300). The plurality of optical waveguide fibers (310) are held in the multiple recesses (308) by suction and positioned on the substrate (302). The optical waveguide fibers (310) are then forced into the adhesive layer (304) and against the reference surfaces (312), by applying air pressure. The optical waveguide fibers (310) are fixed in place by curing the adhesive (304). <IMAGE>
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
G02B 6/36 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP US)
G02B 6/362 (2013.01 - EP US); G02B 6/3636 (2013.01 - EP US)
Citation (search report)
- [X] DE 2640500 A1 19780309 - SIEMENS AG
- [X] US 5135590 A 19920804 - BASAVANHALLY NAGESH R [US], et al
- [X] US 4345137 A 19820817 - MIGNIEN GEORGES, et al
- [X] US 5506928 A 19960409 - EVANS DAVID C [CA], et al
- [XA] EP 0996008 A2 20000426 - SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO [JP]
- [XA] US 5708741 A 19980113 - DEVEAU GEORGE FRANK [US]
- [X] PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1995, no. 03 28 April 1995 (1995-04-28)
- [X] PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 014, no. 158 (P - 1027) 27 March 1990 (1990-03-27)
- [A] PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1999, no. 05 31 May 1999 (1999-05-31)
Designated contracting state (EPC)
DE FR GB IT
DOCDB simple family (publication)
EP 1186920 A1 20020313; AU 7347601 A 20020322; TW 530170 B 20030501; US 2002031325 A1 20020314; US 6574412 B2 20030603; WO 0221174 A1 20020314
DOCDB simple family (application)
EP 00402488 A 20000908; AU 7347601 A 20010716; TW 90124875 A 20020123; US 0122272 W 20010716; US 94233701 A 20010829